Bring your favourite hat for protection from the sun, any style of hat will work. Get a cover to protect your neck as well. A wide-brimmed hat will work as well. Get 2 pairs of buff for the trek. Make sure that the buff covers your face and is comfy. A warm beanie is a must for the Everest base camp trek. Get a warm beanie that is comfortable and covers your ears too. You may as well get a think headband/beanie to put on while sleeping.
You will be trekking for 6-7 hours every day for almost 2 weeks straight and you need to make sure that your underwear is comfortable and breathable. Get breathable underwear and a sports bra for women. Get synthetic/wool and avoid cotton underwear.
While packing clothing for the upper and lower body, you should pack in layers as that will give you a great advantage. Layering is a simple concept but it’s critical when you are on longer-duration treks to high altitudes. You need to pack/wear the layers in conjunction with each other to keep yourself comfortable, keep your temperature regulated and keep dry. We suggest bringing base layers, trekking shirts (Full and half sleeve), fleece jackets/softshell jackets, Hardshell jackets and insulated down jackets.
Similar to the upper body concept, you need to follow a layering concept while packing clothing for the lower body. For reasons unknown it’s barely noticeable layering the lower half of your body - however, just because your upper half is dressed comfortably doesn’t mean your lower half will consequently remain warm as well! Pack next to the skin base layer, trekking shorts, trekking pants and Gore-tex pants. Unlike the upper body, changing your lower body clothes during then the walk is not so convenient.
Footwear is an important piece of gear on any mountain trip. Take care of your feet properly and you will have an amazing experience. Avoid cotton socks and bring different socks (Liner socks, Hiking socks and Thermal socks). Bring a pair of flip-flops/slippers to wear in the cities and when you need to use the restroom at nighttime. Likewise, pack a camp shoe/trainer to wear at the teahouse/lodge, you will for sure want to take off your boot after a long day walk. For hiking boots, we recommend you get an ankle support full boot with Gore-Tex material lined.
Pack two different layers of gloves, a liner glove which will be your all-around glove and a mid-light glove to use when the conditions are too cold for a liner glove.
An internal frame backpack of 32-40 ltr will be perfect for the Everest base camp trek. Please note that if you plan to trek independently then you may need a bigger backpack as you need to carry everything. For the supported trek, a 32-40 ltr backpack will be good as you only need to carry your valuable items, water, camera, sunscreen, snacks and an extra layer of fleece. On all our trips, we provide a waterproof duffel bag to every participant to store their gear which will be carried by the porters.
We recommend getting a minus -10 Degrees Celsius rated sleeping bag for the Everest base camp trek. The nights are going to be cold as you ascend. Blankets are also provided in every teahouse/lodge. We provide every participant with the use of a sleeping bag so that you will not have to spend extra money on buying it.
Other accessories required among the equipment checklist for the Everest base camp trek are listed below. We recommend getting each of the items listed below unless stated (Optional).
From towels to toothpaste, you will need to bring everything required for your daily use on the trek. The teahouses/lodges on the trek don’t offer anything except for a bed and a window with a view.
Pack first aid for the trek and be sure it contains all the required medications for altitude sickness, diarrhoea, headache to even blister. We carry a comprehensive medical kit bag on all our trips but we recommend you bring your first aid as well.
We recommend you bring a copy of each document listed below for emergency purposes.
Pack extra layers of clothes to wear in Kathmandu. You can leave these clothes at the hotel luggage store in Kathmandu. Changing into fresh clothes after a good shower is an excellent feeling.
The recommended equipment checklist for all treks above 3000m to 5500m is provided above. However, you can pack more or less as per your requirements. If you are short on any gear listed above, you can easily buy/rent it here in Kathmandu after your arrival but please ensure that you have at least half a day for shopping.
There are many outdoor shops in Kathmandu where you can buy/rent the equipment. You will find a lot of shops selling locally manufactured items and there are also branded outdoor shops in Thamel such as North Face, Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot etc. where you can buy genuine equipment.
If you're still unsure or have more questions, please email us at communitytreks@gmail.com or reach out via WhatsApp at +977 9808881190.